Tom Clapp

Last updated

Tom Clapp
Birth nameThomas John Sercombe Clapp [1]
Date of birth(1858-10-25)25 October 1858
Place of birth Marylebone, London, England
Date of death15 November 1933(1933-11-15) (aged 75)
School Monmouth School
Occupation(s)Articled clerk
Fruit farmer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Blaina RFC ()
Nantyglo RFC ()
1883-1888 Newport RFC ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1882-1888 [2] Wales 14 (2)

Tom Clapp (25 October 1858 – 15 October 1933) was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and Nantyglo RFC. He won 14 caps for Wales and captained the team on three occasions. Clapp was the first Newport player to captain Wales.

Contents

Rugby career

Born in Portman Square, Marylebone, London, but raised in Somerset, [3] Clapp's family moved to Nantyglo when he was still in his youth. Clapp would play his early rugby for Blaina before moving to Nantyglo RFC. In 1883 he moved to first class team Newport and Clapp made an impression on the club as in the 1884/85 and the 1885/86 seasons he was made team captain. In May 1888 Clapp left Welsh rugby behind and emigrated to the United States of America following his brother David who left a year earlier. In 1920 both brothers were citrus fruit farmers in California.

International career

Clapp gained his first cap in 1882 against Ireland, a game in which he scored a try. The next two games, against England and Scotland, were his last for Nantyglo. Clapp would represent Wales in 14 matches and on 12 March 1887 he captained Wales at Birkenhead Park against Ireland. Wales won the game due to a try being worth a single point, as they were out scored 3 tries to one, but a drop goal from Arthur Gould gave the visitors the win. Clapp retained the captaincy for the next match against Scotland, and led his country in their first win against the Scottish team. His next game against Ireland, on 3 March 1888, would not only be his last as captain, but his last in the Welsh shirt.

International matches played

Wales [4]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport RFC</span> Welsh rugby union club, based in Newport

Newport Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in the city of Newport, Wales. They presently play in the Welsh Premier Division. Until 2021 Newport RFC were based at Rodney Parade situated on the east bank of the River Usk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Gould (rugby union)</span> Wales international rugby union player

Arthur Joseph "Monkey" Gould was a Welsh international rugby union centre and fullback who was most associated as a club player with Newport Rugby Football Club. He won 27 caps for Wales, 18 as captain, and critics consider him the first superstar of Welsh rugby. A talented all-round player and champion sprinter, Gould could side-step and kick expertly with either foot. He never ceased practising to develop his fitness and skills, and on his death was described as "the most accomplished player of his generation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Morgan</span> GB Lions & Wales international rugby union player

Edward Morgan was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the victorious Wales team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks in the famous Match of the Century and is remembered for scoring the game's winning try. He played club rugby for London Welsh and Swansea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Pritchard</span> Wales international rugby union player (1882–1916)

Charles Meyrick Pritchard was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks. He played club rugby for Newport RFC and county rugby for Monmouthshire. Pritchard was one of 13 Wales international players to be killed serving in the First World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Gould (rugby union)</span> Wales international rugby union footballer

Bob Gould was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport Rugby Football Club. He won 11 caps for Wales and captained them for one match. Gould is best known within the sport of rugby as the brother of Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, one of the first superstars of Welsh rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Gwynn</span> Rugby player

William Gwynn was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea and would later become secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union. Gwynn was an all-round sportsman and as well as his success on the rugby pitch he also player cricket for Swansea, of which he became vice-president, and Glamorgan. Gwynn had also played association football and had captained Battersea College XI through two undefeated seasons. He would later become a referee and would officiate the very first football game between Swansea Town and Cardiff City.

Nantyglo Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from Nantyglo Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Henry "Harry" Uzzell was a Welsh international rugby union player. He played club rugby predominantly for Newport and played county rugby for Gloucestershire. A fruiterer by trade he later became landlord of the Tredegar Arms in Bassaleg.

Jack Wetter DCM was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby predominantly for Newport. He was captain for both his club and country and earned 10 caps for Wales.

George Einon Bowen was a Welsh international rugby union half back who played club rugby for Swansea and Llanelli. Bowen won four caps for Wales and also played cricket for Glamorgan. Later in his life he became the Mayor of Kidwelly.

Reginald Truscott Skrimshire was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and county rugby for Kent. He won three caps for Wales and was the only Welsh representative on the 1903 British Isles tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Newman</span> Rugby player

Charlie Henry Newman was a Welsh international three-quarter who played club rugby for Newport. He was awarded ten caps for Wales and captained the team on six occasions. An original member of the Newport squad he captained the team in the 1882/83 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Hancock</span> Wales international rugby union player

Francis Escott Hancock was an English-born rugby union centre who played club rugby for Somerset and Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. Hancock is best known as being the sport's first fourth threequarter player, which changed the formation of rugby union play that lasts to the present day. His role in the development of rugby was recognised by the International Rugby Board in 2011 with induction to the IRB Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Taylor (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Engineer Captain Charles Gerald Taylor was a Royal Navy officer and Wales international rugby union player who played club rugby for Blackheath. He was the first Welsh international to be killed in action during World War I. Taylor was an all-round athlete, and at one time was the Welsh pole vault champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horace Lyne</span> Rugby player

Horace Sampson Lyne MBE was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport Rugby Football Club. He won five caps for Wales. After retiring from play, he became the longest serving president of the Welsh Rugby Union, and was one of six representatives that formed the International Rugby Board.

Thomas Baker Jones was a Welsh international rugby union player who played club rugby union for Newport. Jones was capped six times for Wales and was the first player to score recognised international points for the national team.

Evan Sloane Richards was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea, captaining the club through three seasons during the 1880s. Richards' father was Member of Parliament for Ceredigion, Evan Matthew Richards.

Thomas William Lockwood was an English-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Newport and international rugby for Wales. Lockwood also played regional rugby for both Cheshire and Middlesex. His father was notable architect Thomas Lockwood.

Edward Perkins Alexander was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and London Welsh and international rugby for Wales. Alexander also represented several cricket teams, including Llandovery College.

Quentin Dick Kedzlie was a Scottish-born international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales. In his later life he became the chairman of the South Wales Baseball Association.

References

  1. Newport RFC player profile Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. WRU player profiles
  3. Parry-Jones (1999), pg 36.
  4. Smith (1980), pg 464.
Rugby Union Captain
Preceded by Newport RFC Captain
1884-1886
Succeeded by